Tube-forming machine



.. fi ish; A.

fEpCoNfl TUBE FORMING momma Filed y 29. 1922 Feb. ,28, 1928.

E. CONTI TUBE FORMING MACHINE F iled May 29. 1922 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 Gum/@1 Fgb, 28, 1928;

E. CONT! was rename MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 29.- 1922 gvwemtoz 'Fb', 28, 1928. I

v E. CONTI TUBE'FORMING MACHINE Fil'e'd May 29. 1922 9 SheetS Sheet. 6

- 9 SheetsSheei 7 E. CONTI TUBE FORMING MACHINE Filed may 29. 1922 J l ll lln ll l llr l l 'l l 1| Feb. 28, 1928.

Feb. 28,1928.

7E. CONTI TUBE FORMING MACHINE Filegi May 29 1922 9 s heeds-she e'f. -8

. I (beg I 1,

Feb, 28, 1928;

E. C'ONTl TUBE Fomuue MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheei 9 Filed May 29. 1922 reams Feb. 28,1928. 1

EUGENE CONTI, or cmEEsrnE PARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOE TO ALEXANDER HERZ,

PATENT- sis.

OF ROCHELLE, NEW YORK.

TUBE-FORMING MACHINE.

Application filed May 29, 1922. Serial No. 564,649.-

This invention relates to machines for manufacturing helically wound, convolute tubes, and more particularly tubes which are used as drinking straws.

The invention contemplates broadly the formation of a continuous tube, the cutting ofi of predetermined lengths of the tube while the tube continuously moves, and the delivery of the cutv oil portions from the cutoff mechanism, and further improved mech anism for accomplishing these results.

In the drawings I have illustrated an embodiment of the invention which, however, is selected merely for the convenience of illustration and forthe sake of showing the invention in a concrete form, and the invention is not limited to the construction shown but is applicable to various other forms of mechanism within the definition of the claims.

a Figure 1 isa plan View of the illustrative embodiment of the invention;

Figure 1'? is a detail showing the manner in which the strips ofstock are fed to and 2 wound upon the mandrel, and showing the relation of the strips to the winding tape;

' Figure 2 is a side elevation of the machine;

Figure 3 is an elevation looking at the opposite side to that shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an end elevation looking at the adhesive applying end of the machine;

Figure 5 is an end elevation looking at the delivery end of the machine;

Figure 6 is a fragment'al sectional view disclosing the actuating mechanism;

Figure 7 is an enlarged plan view of the adhesive applying mechanism and the strip stock tensioning device;

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional View of the mechanism shown in Figure.7;

Figure 9 is a detail of the adhesive applying mechanism, showing particularly the means for regulating the amount of adhesive on the applying roll;

Figure 10 is a vertical sectional view taken at right angles to Figure 8, showing the relation of the tensioning device to the adhesive applying roll, and showing the ac 5 tuating mechanism for the latter; and

Figures 11, 12 and 13 are details of the cut-off mechanism.

This illustrative embodiment of the insame.

.' the reach 32 of the winding tape.

vention includes a bed 15, which is supported by legs 16 and in turn sustains the operating parts of the machine.

A mandrel, which is of the stationary type, is supported, in substantially horizontal position, at one end only andis free atits other end. The support for this man drel includes a post 17 rigidlyassociated with and extending upwardly from the bed 15. This mandrel 18 is mounted in the post for horizontal adjustment and is secured in its variousadjusted positions by means such as a set screw 19, as shown-in Figure 6. In order that the strips of stock may be wound upon the stationary mandrel to form a tube,

I have provided a bolster 20, which extends transversely of the bed in a predetermined relation to the mandrel, and beneath the Cross heads 21 and 22extend upwardly from the ends of the bolster 20, and

support horizontally disposed pulleys 23 and 24, which are rigid with vertically downwardly extending'shafts 25 and 26, having bearlngs in the cross heads and'having rigid 28, which mesh-with similar gears 29 on a shaft 30. The shaft 30 extends longitudiwith their lower ends beveled gears 27- and nally of the bolster and is supported by a bearing 31, being actuated in a manner which will later be described.

A winding tape passes around the pulleys 23 and 24 with the reaches of the tape crossed between the pulleys. One reach extends vdirectly from one pulley to the other, while the other reach 33. is wrapped about the mandrel several times so as to provide means for engaging and forming the strips of stock into the continuous tube. Tensioning rollers 34 are mounted on the cross heads 21 and 22 adjustably and engage The disposition of the bolster with relation to the mandrel is such that the turns of the reach 33 about the mandrel will, in the formation of the tube, result in'the proper overlapping of the strips of stock and'the proper-feeding ofthe tube of the diameter being made.

The pulleys 23 and 24 are actuated to draw the winding tape around the stationary mandrel by the shaft 30, which receives its motion through the intermeshing of beveled gears 35 and 36, the latter being on the shaft 30 and the former rigid with a gear v 37 which meshes with a similar but smaller For instance the gears 37 and 38 are. so

mounted that they may be removed and replaced by other gears to change the ratio between the same. winding tape may be varied to accommodate it to the different conditions of the tube be- 1 ving formed. That is to say the slipping of the tape may be overcome and the rate of formation of the tube -may be controlled without changing the rapidity of action of Y the related parts of the machine. Thus with the cutoff mechanism actuated at a constant rate the gears 37 and 38 may be changed to change the rate at which the tube is formed and fed to the cutoff mechanism. Consequently 'the length of the cutoff portion of the tube will be varied. A beveled gear 40 is rigid with the lower end of this shaft 39 and meshes with a similar gear 41 on a shaft 42 which is supportedin bearings 42, depending from the bed 15 of the ma? chine. This shaft 42 extends longitudinally beneath the bed 15 so that it will be most conveniently located not only for the actuation of the winding tape pulleys 23 and 24, but also for the other units of the machine, as will later appear. This shaft 42 is actuatedby the intermeshing of a beveled gear 43, which is rigid therewith and a pinion 44 on a transverse pulley shaft 45. The shaft ,45 is actuated by a belt whichpasses around the pulley 46 on the end thereof-and aroundthe pulley on the commutator shaft of a motor 47, the motor being supported bya suitable frame extending between the legs 16.

Means is provided for feeding strips of stock, such as paper, to the mandrel in proper angular relation thereto, under tension and supplied with the desired adhesive.

to cause the strips to adhere to each other and with a lubricant to reduce the friction between the mandrel and the stripsas they are wound into a tube and fed from the mandrel in the form of a tube. This means includes mechanism for applying a lubricant to one of the strips, thatis, the one which comes into direct contact with the mandrel, and includes also a mechanism for applying adhesive to the other strip so that when it,

is wound upon the previously wound lubricant carrying strip it will adhere to the outer face thereof and result in the forma tion of a rigid tube. The embodiment of this means illustrated includes a carrier bar 48 which extends substantially vertically from, and is rigid with, an extension 49 of thebed 15. This carrier baris provided, both above and below the bed 15, with re- Thus the speed of the self rotated by intermeshing ment' the minimum time will be consumed in threading new strips of stock to the mandrel after the strips from one pair of supply rolls are consumed. For instance, pre suming that the strip stock is being fed from the upper supply rolls 52 shown in Figure 2, the lower supply rolls 52 are in readiness to be threaded when the upper rolls 52 are exhausted.

Channeled gi ides 53 and 54 are mounted on suitable supports 53 and 54', above the bed of the machine, and are arranged in suitable angular relationship to the mandrel to respectively accommodate the strips 55 and 56, which pass from the supply rolls beneath a guide roller 57. Each of these channeled guides is provided with a gravity actuated tensioning device 59, which is covered with.

felt 59 and'rests upon the strip passing through the guide with which the device is associated. These gravity actuated devices tension the strips as they pass to the mandrel I and are wound into the form ofa tube. The strip 56 which passes through the guide 53 is deflecteddownwardly by a guide roller 60 and thence over an adhesive applying roll 61, which is mounted in. an adhesive supply reservoir 63 supported on a standard 64 extending upwardly from the bed of the machine and independent'of the bolster 20. The rotation of the roll 61 is accomplished by means of beveled gears 65 and 66, the former being rigid with the shaft 62 and the latter with a vertical shaft 67, which is actuated by intermeshing beveled gears 68 and 69, the gear 69 being rigid with the longitudinally disposed shaft 42.

The amount of "adhesive carried by the roll 61 to the strip 56 asthe latter passes over the roll is controlled by a roller which is mounted on pivotedv brackets'71, and is itgears 72 and 73, the former being rigid with the. latter with the shaft 62. 'This roller is normally drawn toward the roll 61 by a spring 74, and against adjustable abutments 75 by'means of which the space between the,

roller 70 and the adhesive applying roll 61 is controlled to thereby control the amount of adhesive applied'to the strip 56 as it passes over the roll 61, The other strip 55 passes'directly from the channeled guide 54 to the mandrel andforms the base of thetube on which the adhesive coated strip 56 is wound. In order that the face of the strip 55 which contacts with the stationary mandrel may be lubricated to reduce the the roller 70 and friction between the mandrel and the tube as the latter is formed and fed along the mandrel, I have enlarged the end .of the mandrel as at 76, Figure 1, and extended from this enlarged end a lubricator 77 which is arranged in the path of travel of the strip 55 and has an upwardly facing opening 7 8 therein from which a lubricant such as oil flows to contact with the under surface of the strip. This lubricator 7 7 is supplied with a lubricant from a reservoir 79carried by the enlarged end 7 6 of the mandrel through a duct 80 in said enlarged end.

Thus the strip 55 is lubricated before it' reaches the mandrel and consequently the friction between the mandrel and the strip is reduced to a minimum, and the strip 56 is on its under surface coated with adhesive so that when it is wound on the previously wound strip 55 it willv adhere thereto and form a rigid tube.

In order that the tube as it is continuously formed and fed from the mandrel 18 may be cut into predetermined lengths, without interrupting the continuous movement of the tube, and without distorting it, I have provided means for rapidly traversing the path of movement of the tube to sever such lengths. The embodiment of this means illustrated in the drawing includes standards 81 and 82, the former of which carries a guide 83 into which the tube is fed as it passes from the mandrel, and the latter of which carries a pair of guides 84 and 85. A cutter '86, which is provided with the desired number of blades 87, is rigid with a cutter carrier 88 and is supported by the standards 81 and 82. This cutter is operated by a suitable actuating element, such as a gear 89. The cutter and actuating element are relatively rotatable but are prevented from a movement longitudinally of their axes. In the drawings the cutter 86, together with its carrier 88, and the gear 89, are shown as supported on a rod 91, which extends between the standards 81 and .82. The gear 89 is continuously rotated by a train of mechanism which includes a gear 92 rigid with a shaft 93, which shaft is supported by the standards 81 and 82, and in cludes also beveled gears 94 and 95 which. intermesh. The former of these gears is rigid with the shaft 93 and the latter with a vertical shaft 95', which extends through the bed 15 of the machine, and is provided on its lower end with a beveled gear 96 which meshes with a pinion 97 rigid with the longitudinal drive shaft 42.

In order that the cutter may be given suceessive rotative movements, that'is, a stepb'y-step rotation, at the requisite speed, I

have provided means for maintaining the cutter stationary during certain periods of the continuous rotation of the actuating element or gear 89,'and have provided means for storing the energy developed by the con-- tinued rotation of said gear 89 during the periods of rest of the cutter, so that upon a the release of the cutter it will be rotated with great rapidity, due to the release of v the energy storing element; The rate of-rotation of the cutter is preferably increased over that of the actuating element so that it will traverse the path of movement of the formed tube at such speed that the tube will be severed without its movement being interrupted energy storing element in the embodiment illustrated takes the form of a spring 98 which is rigidly associated at its ends with the cutter carrier 88 and the gear 89 so that during the continued rotation-of the gear 89 and the holding of the cutter and its carrier stationary, the spring will be plaeedunder tension.

and without being distorted. This- The means for holding the cutter a tionary periodically while the desired amount of the tube is fed past the blade of the cutter and the energy stored in the spring 98 is increased, comprises mechanism which will engage the cutter carrier to hold ,it stationary, release 'it for rotative movement after the predetermined length of tube has been 'fed through the guide 85, and then reengage it after the cutter have moved sufliciently to cut off the predetermined "length of tube.

This mechanism for controlling the operation of the cutter as illustrated includes a pair of pawls99 and 100, which are alternately engaged with the cutter carrier 88. These pawls 99 and. 100 are mounted on a pivot 101 and are adapted to engage a pair of abutments 102 and 103 on the cutter car rier 88 and to co-ope'rate with these abut-- ments to maintain the cutter stationary. These abutments are provided with abrupt faces 104 for engagement with the toe por tions of the pawls and with inclined or receding. faces 105. The abutments 102 and 103 are arranged on the cutter carrier in staggered relation and on opposite sides thereof,.while the pawls are mounted on the pivot 101 in diiferent planes, each in the plane of the abutment. with wh ch it cooperates. These pawls 99 and 100 are provided with arms 106 which extend from the pivot 100 in angular relation to the pawls and act as counter-weights to normally move the toe portionspf the pawls into the paths of movement of the abutments 103 and102.

They are, however, assisted in their action by springs 107. ,The action of these springs and of gravity causes the arms to rest on the peripheral face of a disk 1.08 which is mounted on the shaft 93 for continuous rotation, and is provided with cams ,109, and 110 which respectively cooperate with the arms of the pawls 99 and 100 to alternately move the toe portions of thepawls out of the paths of movement of the abutments 102 and 103' against the action of gravity and ofthe springs 107.

a The ratio of the gears which transmits the motion from the drive shaft 42 to the pulleys 23 and 24, and consequently actuates the tube winding tape, is such that the tube will be formed and fed from the mandrel at a predetermined speed, bearing a definite relation to'the frequency of movement of the cutter blades, whereby the blades will operate to sever the formed tube into predetermined and equal lengths. Should it be desired to cut the formed .tube into longer or shorter lengths this may be accomplished by changing the relative speeds of the tube forming and tube cutting mechanisms, as for instance by changing the gear ratio be tween the drive shaft and the tube forming mechanism to vary the speedof rotation of the pulleys 23 and 24 and consequently the speed of the tube winding tape, which variation of, speed will result in a variation of the speed at whic-hthe tube is formed and fed from the mandrel to the cutting mech- 'a'nism.

It will be seen that the arrangement of the drive shaft 42 longitudinally of and beneath the bed 15 of the machine considerably reduces friction and lost motion in the actuation of the several elements of the machine, since the number of the gears necessary to actuate these elements'is less than if the shaft were otherwise located and since the driving gears for these elements may be directly connected to the shaft 42.

' 'Means'is provided for delivering the cut oil blanks of tube from the cut-off mechanism, which means includes a bracket 111 which, extends outwardly from the standard 82 and carries the vertical plate 112. Guide fingers 113 extend from the upper edge of this plate 112 in substantially horizontal positions and thence downwardly 1n spaced relation to the pla'te'and beyond the lower edge thereof, thus providing a delivery opening 114 through which the cut oil portions of thetube will pass after having r of the .ma

een cast against the fingers 113 during the cut-off operation, and having been guided downwardly by. the fingers 113;

Summarizing the operation of the machine, the strips'55andl56 of the stock are fed to the stationary mandrel 1'8, the former supplied. on its under face, that is, the face which contacts with the mandrel, with 011 and the latter supplied on; its under face; which 'enga es' the :previously wrapped strlp 55, with a hesive. The passage of these strips betweenthe turns of the winding tape and the mandrel winds them into a continuous tube, and feeds the tube longitudinally ndrel to the cut-ofl mechanism,

the cutting blade :86. of which latter mechanism traverses the path ofmovementof the 1,eeo,ssa

tube in a fixed path and cuts the tube into predetermined lengths. These cut-01f portions are guided by the delivery mechanism to a suitable receptacle or mechanism for subsequently operating on the tubes.

What -I claim is:

1. In a tube forming machine, the combi nation with means for winding strips of material into a helical tube and-for feeding thev formed tube longitudinally, of means for traversing the path of movement of the tube to sever the same into predetermined lengths, and means for arresting the lateral displacement of the severed lengths of tube under the influence of the severing means and for delivering said lengths from themachine.

2. In a tube forming machine, the combination with means for winding strips of material into a helicaltube and for feeding the formed tube longitudinally, of means for traversing the path of movement of the tube .to sever the same into predetermined lengths, and means for arresting the lateral displacement of the several lengths of tube under the influence of the severing means and for delivering said lengths from the machine, said delivering means including a. plurality of fingers forming a chute having a. downwardly opening throat.

3. In a tube formingmachine, a mandrel having an enlarged portion and a reduced stock receivlng portlon, and a lubr cant tube having a yieldable element interposed there-- in and means for interrupting the movement of the cutter, said cutter being operable in a I plane transverse to the tube.

6. In a machine for forming substantially rigid'tubes,

of a rotatable cutter operating. in a single plane transverse to the tube for severing the same and driving mechanism for said cutter comprising a yieldable element and means for intermittently retarding the movement of the cutter and releasing the same.

7. In a machine for forming substantially rigid tubes, the combination with amandrel and mechanism cooperating therewith for winding strip'material .into a tube and feed ing the tube from" the mandrel of a cutter operating in a fixed plane transverse to the the combination with a mandrel and mechanism cooperating therewith for winding strip material into a tube thereon i said severing means rigid tube,

the formed tube from said forming means,-

' cutter at intervals to permit rigid tube, I the formed high speed to a rotary cutter mounted to traverse the tube for cutting the formed tube into predetermined lengths and driving means for the cutter comprising a spring and means for intermittently retarding the movement of the cutter.

8. In a tube forming machine comprising a mandrel and means for winding a paper strip diagonally upon said mandrel having an enlarged hollow portion and a reduced operative portion, the combination with the mandrel of a lubricant tube removably secured in said enlarged portion and extending therefrom in parallel relation to the operative portion, being positioned to contact with a strip of stock being fed to said mandrel substantially as described. 7

9. In a tube forming machine, in combination, means for forming a. substantially rigid tube, means for continuously feeding the formed tube fromsaid' forming means, means adapted to traverse the path of movement of the tube at high speed in a fixed plane to sever said tube into predetermined lengths without distorting or buckling the same, and means to retard the said severing means between each successive traverse of the tube to permit the feeding of the desired predetermined length of tube.

10. In a tube forming machine, in combination, means for forming a substantially means for continuously-feeding tube from said forming means, means adapted to traverse the path of movement of the tube at high speed in a fixed plane to sever said tube into predetermined lengths without distorting or buckling the same, and means toinhibit the motion of between each successive traverse of the tube to permit the feeding of the desired predetermined length of the tube.

' 11. In a tube forming machine, in comb 1-- nation, means forforming a substantially means for continuously feeding means to sever said tube into predetermined lengths comprising a cutter mounted to of the tube in across the 'path of the tube at sufficiently prevent distortion or buckling, and means to inhibit the motion of said. cutter between each successive traverse of said tube to permit the feeding of the desired predetermined length of the tube.

12.. In a tube formlng machine, in combination, means for forming a substantially rigid tube,'means for continuously feeding the formed tube from said forming-meals,

a of movement of the tube in a fixed pihne, and means for inhibiting the rotation of said the feeding of the desired predetermined length of tube.

13. In a tube forming machine, in commandrel, the

said lubricant tube means to drive said cutter bination, means for forming a substantially rigid tube, means for continuously feeding the'formcd tube from said forming means, a rotary cutter mounted to traverse the path of movement of the tube in a fixed plane, a constantly rotating drive means therefor,- corrections between said cutterv and drive means such that the number of turns of the one will bear a constant ratio to the number of turns of the other, and means for stopping the cutter between each successive traverse of the tube to permit the feeding of the desiredpredeterminedlength of tube.

14;. In a tube forming machine, in combination, means for forming a substantially rigid tube, means for continuously feeding the formed tube from saidforming means, a rotary cutter mounted to traverse the path of movement of the tube in a fixed plane, means to drive said cutter, and means controlled by said drive means for inhibiting the motion of said cutter.

15. In a tube forming machine, in combination, means for forming a substantially rigid tube, means for continuously feeding the formed tube from said forming means, a rotary cutter mounted to traverse the path of movement of the tube in a fixed plane, means to drive said cutter, yielding connections between said cutter and drive means, and means controlled by'said drive means for inhibiting the motion of said cutter.

16. In a tube forming machine, in combination, means for forming a substantially rotary cutter mounted to traverse the path of movement of the tube in a fixed plane, means to move said cutter across the path of movement of the tube at regular intervals, whereby substantially uniform lengths will be cut, and means to stop the rotation of said cutter after each successive cutting movement. -17; Ina tube forming machine, in combination, means for forming a substantially rigid tube, means, for contmuously feeding the-formed tube from said forming. means, arotary cutter mounted to traverse the path of movement of the tube in a fixed plane, means to move said cutter across the path of" movement of the tube at intervals such that substantially uniform lengths will be out,

'- and means to stop the rotation of said cutter after each successive cutting movement.

18. In a tube forming machine, in combination, means for rigid tube, means for continuously feeding the formed tube from said. forming means, a rotary cutter mounted to traverse the path of movement of the tube in afixed plane, a rotary drive means therefor, a spring operatively connecting the drive means and cutter, and means for inhibiting the rotation of the cutter to caus. a compressioii of the conforming a substantially the influence of the said spring,

til

' a rotary cutter mounted to traverse nectingspring and then releasing the cutter to cause a quick cutting action thereof under whereby the tube may be severed during the forward movement thereof without distorting or buckling the same.

19. In a tube forming machine, in combination, means for forming a substantially rigid tube, means forcontinuously feeding the formed tube from said forming means, the path of movement of the tube in a fixed plane, a

rotary drive means therefor, a spring oper-. atively connecting the drive means and cutter, and means under control of the drive means for inhibiting the rotation of the cutter to cause a compression of the connecting spring, and then releasing the cutter to cause aquick cutting action thereof under the influence of the said spring, whereby the tube may be severed during'the forward inovement thereof without distorting or buckling the same.

'In testimony whereof, I have signedmy name to this pecification this 22nd day of May, 1922.

EUGENE CONTI. 

